25 January 2011

SBS RADIO LAUNCHES THE PopAsia SHOW

SBS Radio is excited to announce the launch of the SBS PopAsia Show. This new two hour program will broadcast the latest Asian pop hits every weeknight, with features including The PopAsia Show Top 8 Countdown, song requests, the PopAsia Hit Pick, PopAsia Profiles (artist profiles), entertainment news, and the PopAsia Mushi Mash – SBS’s own DJ mash-ups of Asian hit music. From urban inspired Japanese J-Pop and the mega star ballads of Cantonese and Mandarin C-Pop, to the R&B rhythms of Korean K-Pop currently taking Asia by storm – The PopAsia Show is SBS’s musical journey into the heart of Asia's pop music scene. It is one of the only Asian pop stations in the world to broadcast in English. Throughout the program, listeners are invited to interact with host Jamaica dela Cruz and producer Saichung Chiang (Cyber Sy), via the SBS PopAsia website and facebook page. They can request songs and vote for their favourite track for the Top 8 Countdown. There will be cameras in the studio from January 31, and the live webcast can be viewed at sbs.com.au/popasia. The program brings together social networking, audio and video content, and offers the opportunity for listeners to be part of the experience. The PopAsia Show airs 5pm to 7pm weeknights, on SBS PopAsia digital radio and is available on demand online at sbs.com.au/popasia. It is repeated from 11pm-1am on SBS FM and AM Radio, and on SBS Radio 1 and 2 on Digital TV.

For more information and frequencies in your area visit sbs.com.au/popasia. For further information about SBS or interview requests, contact: Sophia Spinelli, Communications Manager – SBS ph: (02) 9430 3711 | mob: 0410 317 085 email: sophia.spinelli@sbs.com.au | web: sbs.com.au

Background

PopAsia began as the Asian Pop Show, an overnight program on SBS Radio’s Alchemy Program in 2007. This program tapped into the current interest in Asian pop music, and brought it to a national audience. Almost immediately, SBS found an audience keen to listen to and talk about their favourite K-Pop*, C-Pop*, M-Pop* and J-Pop* music. In response, the Asian Pop Show was born. The show featured interviews with Asian pop artists including MC Hotdog, Peggy Hsu and Alan, and also explored Asian youth culture with stories about Anime and Cosplay. This two hour Thursday night program also allowed the audience to request their favourite Asian pop tracks. In 2008 the Asian Pop Show released its first CD and continued to build a loyal Asian pop audience. In 2009 the Asian Pop Show was re-launched as the PopAsia channel on digital radio, with Jamaica dela Cruz. Today PopAsia plays the latest Asian pop, including K-Pop artists like Shinee, 2Ne1, BOA, Super Junior, J-Pop artists like Arashi, Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, Katun, and Perfume, plus M-Pop artists like Jolin Tsai, Fahrenheit, Lee Hom Wang, and J Chou, and C-Pop artists including Jay Chou, Danson Tang, Eason Chan, and Sammi Cheng. *K-Pop: Korean Pop C-Pop: Cantonese Pop M-Pop: Mandarin Pop J-Pop: Japanese Pop

Presenter Biography: Jamaica dela Cruz

Jamaica dela Cruz is the presenter of the SBS PopAsia radio show. Born in the Philippines, Jamaica grew up around radio stations, the family business. She studied Media and Broadcasting, hosted her own pop radio show at the age of seventeen, and then worked as a presenter for other radio stations in Manila, and also as a television sports reporter. In 2008 she came to Australia to complete her MBA. She started working for SBS with the Filipino radio program, later moving into her role as host for SBS PopAsia.

HostHostHostHost

JamaicaJamaicaJamaicaJamaica d d d dela Cruz ela Cruz ela Cruz ela Cruz (above)

ProducerProducerProducerProducer Saichung “Cyber Sy” ChiangSaichung “Cyber Sy” ChiangSaichung “Cyber Sy” ChiangSaichung “Cyber Sy” Chiang

Music programmer/ producerMusic programmer/ producerMusic programmer/ producerMusic programmer/ producer Tim HaganTim HaganTim HaganTim Hagan

Executive ProducerExecutive ProducerExecutive ProducerExecutive Producer Maddy Maddy Maddy Maddy

FryerFryerFryerFryer

The SBS PopAsia ShowThe SBS PopAsia ShowThe SBS PopAsia ShowThe SBS PopAsia Show 5-7pm Monday to Friday AEST on SBS Pop Asia digital radio and streaming

online sbs.com.au/popasia

Repeated 11pm-1am Monday to Friday on

SBS FM and AM Nationally Across Australia

Sydney 97.7 FM

1107 AM

Melbourne 93.1 FM

1224 AM

and on SBS Radio 1 & 2 on Digital TV

For more information and frequencies in your

area visit sbs.com.au/popasiasbs.com.au/popasiasbs.com.au/popasiasbs.com.au/popasia

From left to right: Saichung Chiang, Jamaica dela Cruz, Tim Hagan